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Jeter runs on treadmill, takes ground balls

MLB.com's Hot Stove analysts Anthony DiComo and Matthew Leach talk about Derek Jeter working out for first time since his offseason surgery

By Bryan Hoch

TAMPA, Fla. -- Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter ran on a treadmill on Monday for the first time since having left ankle surgery in October and said that it felt "great."

Jeter also took about 75 to 80 ground balls at his shortstop position during a morning workout at the Yankees' Minor League facility, with minimal lateral movement and no throws across the diamond.

"I'm just progressing, like I've told you," Jeter said. "I'm right where I need to be. I've gotten the OK to do everything now."

The Yanks have been proceeding cautiously with Jeter, who shattered his ankle lunging for a ground ball in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series at Yankee Stadium, but they believe Jeter will be ready to play shortstop on Opening Day against the Red Sox.

"I feel fine," Jeter said. "I was able to do everything else, I just had to be careful with my ankle. Now, I've gotten the green light with that. I've gotten all the green lights I need."

Outfielder Curtis Granderson, who also worked out at the Minor League complex on Monday, said that he nearly forgot about Jeter's season-ending injury when he spotted the shortstop jogging on the treadmill.

"He looked good," Granderson said. "It was weird, he was on there and I just came up; we were talking and I didn't think about that because he wasn't hobbling around or wincing in pain. To me, it looked like he was just warming up."

Yankees pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report to camp on Tuesday, with the first workout on Wednesday. Position players aren't scheduled to report to camp until Sunday, so Jeter will continue his workouts at the Himes Avenue Minor League complex until then.

"It's a normal progression," Jeter said. "Even if I didn't break my ankle, there's steps. This is just another step in the process that I would be doing anyway. When I originally start taking ground balls, I take them on the grass and don't move. Then I start to move, then I back up, so it's all the same as years before."

Jeter is expected to be somewhat behind some of the Yanks' other players in Spring Training and may see increased action at designated hitter for the first few weeks of games. Jeter said he is not concerned with the number of at-bats he needs to prepare for the regular season.

"I've been in Spring Trainings where I've gotten a lot [of at-bats], I've been in Spring Trainings where I've dealt with the WBC where I haven't got many," Jeter said. "I don't think there's really a particular number. I think it's just whenever you feel comfortable. If you get off to a good start, they say you don't need a lot of at-bats. If you don't, they say you need more."

Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @bryanhoch and read his MLBlog, Bombers Beat. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.